Gavin Howe
The Age of Madness trilogy is the second trilogy set in the First Law world by British author Joe Abercrombie. The first book, A Little Hatred, was published on September 17, 2019, with the final book, The Wisdom of Crowds, released in September 2021. The Age of Madness trilogy is set approximately 28 years after the conclusion of the First Law trilogy. While it is possible to read the Age of Madness trilogy without reading the First Law trilogy first, readers may have a deeper understanding of certain characters and plot points by reading the First Law trilogy first. The First Law trilogy lays the foundation for the world and characters that appear in the Age of Madness trilogy, and readers may appreciate the latter more if they have read the former. However, the Age of Madness trilogy can be enjoyed as a standalone work, and readers who are new to Abercrombie's work may still find it engaging and accessible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Order of reading | It is recommended to read the First Law trilogy before Age of Madness for better character development and world-building |
| Plot | Age of Madness is set approximately 28 years after the conclusion of the First Law trilogy, in a world that has entered an Industrial Age |
| Characters | Some characters from the First Law trilogy appear in Age of Madness |
| Author | Joe Abercrombie |
| Genre | Grimdark, fantasy |
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What You'll Learn
Character histories and development
The First Law trilogy and the Age of Madness trilogy are both written by Joe Abercrombie and set in the fictional world of the Circle of the World. The First Law trilogy follows the fortunes and misfortunes of six viewpoint characters: Logen Ninefingers, Jezal dan Luthar, Sand dan Glokta, Ferro Maljinn, The Dogman, and Collem West. The Age of Madness trilogy introduces new characters, including crown prince Orso, Savine dan Glokta, Leo dan Brock, and Rikke.
The First Law trilogy is followed by three standalone novels in which some minor characters from the trilogy play important roles, and some major characters from the trilogy appear in smaller roles or cameos. The standalone novels are Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. The Heroes is set in the North seven years after the trilogy and centres on another war between The Union and The North. Best Served Cold is set in Styria, a land of warring city-states, and follows mercenary-general Monza Murcatto.
The Age of Madness trilogy takes place 15 years after the events of Red Country, the final standalone novel. The Union has entered the early industrial age, and the North is invading Angland. While it is not necessary to read the First Law trilogy before the Age of Madness trilogy, doing so would provide deeper knowledge of the characters and the world. Some characters from the First Law trilogy appear in the Age of Madness trilogy, and the world of the Age of Madness trilogy is severely affected by events from the previous books.
The Age of Madness trilogy features character development and progression. For example, Jezal dan Luthar becomes a literal puppet, and Orso's journey is about self-actualization. Rikke's vision in the final book of the Age of Madness trilogy has readers thirsting for more.
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World-building
The Age of Madness trilogy is the second trilogy set in the First Law world by British author Joe Abercrombie. The first book, A Little Hatred, was published on 17 September 2019, with the final book, The Wisdom of Crowds, released in September 2021. The Union has entered an Industrial Age, with chimneys rising all over Midderland, but the ancient powers still remain. The Age of Madness trilogy is set approximately 28 years after the conclusion of the First Law trilogy, or 15 years after Red Country.
The First Law trilogy is comprised of three books: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings. The trilogy is full of political messaging, with themes such as corporations controlling the state, individuals driving corporations, the manipulation of conflict in foreign states to seize power, and the pointlessness of war and revenge. Abercrombie's stories stand out for their strong character development, realistic portrayals of violence, and dark sense of humour that cuts through the tension. The world is expansive and detailed, offering a depth beyond the usual good-versus-evil plot.
The Age of Madness trilogy picks up the threads left over from the First Law trilogy more directly than the standalone books. The plot explores the struggles of The Union's dysfunctional government to cope with the social changes brought by industrialisation and enclosure of common land. It also delves into the bitter rivalry between the Magi, such as Bayaz, Khalul, Zacharus, Cawneil, and Shenkt, and the other powers in the Circle of the World, including The Other Side, Ferro Maljinn, and the Dragon People.
While it is possible to read the Age of Madness trilogy without reading the First Law trilogy first, some readers argue that doing so would result in a loss of context for certain characters and plot points. Several characters from the First Law trilogy appear or are referenced in the Age of Madness trilogy, and reading the First Law trilogy first provides additional depth and perspective on these characters, offering a richer experience of the world and its inhabitants. Additionally, the First Law trilogy lays the foundation for understanding the world-building and character histories that are crucial to fully appreciating the Age of Madness trilogy.
However, the standalone novels within the First Law world are crafted to stand independently, so new readers can enjoy them without prior knowledge of the trilogy. The Heroes, for example, focuses on a single battle and explores the consequences of previous events, while Best Served Cold introduces a new chapter shortly after the trilogy's end. These standalone novels can provide a good introduction to Abercrombie's world-building and character development before diving into the Age of Madness trilogy.
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Reading order
The Age of Madness trilogy is the second trilogy set in the First Law world by Joe Abercrombie. The first book, A Little Hatred, was published in 2019, and the final book, The Wisdom of Crowds, was released in 2021. The Age of Madness is set approximately 28 years after the conclusion of the First Law trilogy.
While it is possible to read the Age of Madness trilogy without reading the First Law trilogy first, it is not recommended. The First Law trilogy provides essential context for the world and characters of the Age of Madness trilogy, and reading them in publication order will give you a deeper understanding of the story and add more meaning to what certain characters say and do. Several characters from the First Law trilogy appear or are referenced in the Age of Madness trilogy, and the struggles of the Union's dysfunctional government to cope with social changes brought by industrialization are picked up in the later trilogy.
In addition to the First Law trilogy, there are also three standalone novels and a collection of short stories set in the First Law world. These works can provide additional depth and perspective on the characters and the world, but they are not essential to understanding the Age of Madness trilogy. However, some readers have suggested that reading the standalone novel The Heroes before the Age of Madness trilogy adds to the experience.
Therefore, the recommended reading order for the First Law world is as follows:
- The First Law trilogy: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and Last Argument of Kings
- The standalone novels: Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country
- The Age of Madness trilogy: A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace, and The Wisdom of Crowds
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Book recommendations
If you are interested in reading Joe Abercrombie's The Age of Madness trilogy, you may be wondering if you need to read the First Law trilogy and standalone books first. While it is not essential to read the previous books before starting The Age of Madness, doing so will greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the characters and the world they inhabit.
The Age of Madness is set in the same world as the First Law trilogy, approximately 28 years after the conclusion of the final book, "Last Argument of Kings". The world has entered an Industrial Age, with chimneys rising across Midderland, and the Union's dysfunctional government struggles to cope with social changes brought by industrialization and enclosure of common land. The Age of Madness trilogy also features the children of the previous protagonists, and several characters from the First Law trilogy appear or are referenced. While it is not necessary to know their full backstory, it will add depth and perspective to your reading experience.
Additionally, the First Law trilogy and the standalone books are excellent in their own right and are worth reading for their strong character development, realistic portrayals of violence, dark humour, and complex characters. Abercrombie's writing often subverts traditional fantasy tropes, offering a gritty and more realistic take on the genre. The First Law trilogy sets the stage for the world and characters that you will encounter in The Age of Madness.
If you are short on time or are not interested in reading the entire First Law series before starting The Age of Madness, it is recommended to at least read the standalone novel ""The Heroes", as it ties into the Age of Madness trilogy the most. Another standalone novel that provides important backstory is "Best Served Cold", which introduces the character of Caul Shivers.
In conclusion, while it is possible to read and enjoy The Age of Madness trilogy on its own, reading the First Law trilogy and standalone books first will greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the characters and the world they inhabit.
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Plot threads
The Age of Madness trilogy is the second trilogy set in the First Law world by Joe Abercrombie. The first book, A Little Hatred, was published in 2019, with the final book, The Wisdom of Crowds, released in 2021. The story is set approximately 28 years after the conclusion of the First Law trilogy. The Union has entered an Industrial Age, with chimneys rising all over Midderland, but the ancient powers remain. The plot picks up the threads left over from the First Law Trilogy more directly than the standalone books. The Age of Madness trilogy explores the struggles of The Union's dysfunctional government to cope with the social changes brought by industrialisation and enclosure of common land. It also delves into the bitter rivalry between the Magi, including Bayaz, Khalul, Zacharus, Cawneil, and Shenkt, and the powers in the Circle of the World, such as The Other Side, Ferro Maljinn, and the Dragon People.
The Age of Madness trilogy can be read without prior knowledge of the First Law trilogy and standalone books. However, reading the First Law trilogy first will provide deeper insights into the world-building and character histories. Several characters from the First Law trilogy appear or are referenced in the Age of Madness trilogy, and reading the previous books will add more meaning to their presence and actions in the new trilogy. The standalone books, particularly The Heroes and Best Served Cold, also provide additional depth and perspective on characters and events that are referenced in the Age of Madness trilogy.
While it is not necessary to read the First Law trilogy and standalone books before The Age of Madness, doing so will enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of the complex characters and their relationships, as well as the broader world-building and plot threads.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can read the Age of Madness without reading Abercrombie's First Law trilogy first. However, the Age of Madness trilogy is set in the same world as the First Law trilogy, and some characters from the First Law trilogy appear or are referenced in the Age of Madness trilogy. Reading the First Law trilogy first will give you more context on the world and certain characters.
You might be a little confused by some of the names and references to previous events, but the Age of Madness trilogy is written in a way that can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the First Law trilogy.
The Age of Madness trilogy is the second trilogy set in the First Law world, so the first trilogy (The First Law trilogy) and the standalone novels are meant to be read before it. The standalone novels are not essential to understanding the Age of Madness trilogy, but they do provide additional depth and perspective on the world and its characters.
The best order to read the books in is the publication order, starting with "The Blade Itself," the first book in the First Law trilogy. However, some people choose to start with the Age of Madness trilogy and then go back and read the previous books.
